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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: date · stock · suit · prune · fine · perch · mouse · mark

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. perch — the fish
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. stock — goods
  7. fine — all right
  8. date — the fruit
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. prune — to trim
  11. prune — to trim
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. mark — a trace
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. mark — a grade
  21. suit — in cards
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. stock — shares
  24. suit — to fit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com